Conveyer chain



June 30, '41936. R. J. HowlsoN CONVEYER CHAIN Filed Aug. 25, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Imm@ GOO

Hull" MUNI-7 y im .uniti f rfid INVENT R M@ -BY jme 30, 1936.V Y R.J.How1s oN 2,045,912

CONVEYER CHAIN Filed Aug. 25, 1934, 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 2M, ff

' y INVENTOR' BY h Mmmm??` R. J.. HowlsoN Y 2,045,912

coNvEYER CHAIN June so, 1936. l

Filed Aug. 25, 1934 4 Sheets-She-et 5 June 30, 1936. R. J. HowlsQN n CONVEYER CHAIN Filed Aug. 25, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ff a ' ticular use.

Patented June 30, 1936 a STATE Arai sie@ CONVEYER. CHAIN Application August 25, 1934, Serial No. 741,509

3 Claims.

This application is a continuation in part of my copending application Ser. No. 675,950.

This invention relates to a novel and improved form of conveyer chain, the novel features of which will be best understood from the following description and the annexed drawings, Vin which I have shown selected embodiments of the invention and in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a fragmentary part of a bottling machine, showing the chain employed therewith;

Fig. 2 is a view taken from the bottom of a po-rtion of a chain and showing certain parts thereof in disassembled relation to each other;

Fig. 3 is a view taken in elevation on one side of a chain constructed according tol one em bodiment;

Fig. 4 is a top view of the same chain appearing in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Fig.' 1;r

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view corresponding to part of Fig. 2 but showing still another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 7 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 but showing another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of one ofthe convey-er plates, showing it riveted to a bracket; Y

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 but showing a welded construction.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but showing another form which the invention may take.

Fig. 11 is a view of one of the units appearing in Fig. 10 but shown detached from the rest of the chain; and

Fig. 12 is a View similar to Fig. 11 but showing another one of the units of the chain.

The chain forming the subject matter of this application finds particular utility in the handling of bottles although it is not limited to that par- I have shown in Fig. 1 a section of a bottling machine I having a device 2 adapted to'apply caps to bottles brought under it as by a suitable feeding mechanism 3. The bottles may be fed to and conveyed from the capping device by a chain 4, and it is to the details of the chain used for this and similar purposes that my invention applies.

Hitherto, in practice such chains have been made of cast or forged metal, with the conveyer tops cast or forged in one piece with links with which the sprocket engaging memberv engages. Certain difculties have arisen from such prior art constructions, which I have overcome by an arrangement which makes it possible to use steel of the two plates 1 and 8 with the bushingsand Merely as an example of one use,`

plate construction of the chain and parts associated therewith.

Referring first to Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5, the cl'rainl` shown is of the roller block type comprising links arranged in pairs and pivotally connected bypin's. 5`

Each alternate pair comprises links in the :form of plates 5 and 6 between which are disposedthe ends of the intermediate pair of plates 'l and 8, all of these plates being provided with aligned holes through which may pass pins 9 to pivotally l0 connect the adjoining pairs of platestojform chain. In the assembly of a chain of this type,

it is common to have the plate 5,'for example,

provided with holes in which the pins 9 are head! ed over, so that the pins are rigidlyi'lxed in those 15 holes. 'Ihenthe plates 'l and 8 of the inter mediate pair of link plates are assembled withjtwo bushings IIJ with a driving or press fit, and the bushings are slipped over the pins 9.' Rollers il, may or may not be used. In Fig, 2, at the left thereof, I have shown a plate 5 having a pin Si thus secured thereto, and I have shown `a plate 1. having the bushings HJ secured thereto with a driving or press fit. The rollers I l, if they are to be used, may then be slipped over the bushings, occupying the dotted line position shown' in Fig. 2, and then the plate 8 may be put in place over the ends of the bushings I0 by pressing or driving, as also indicated in'dotted lines. The assembly rollers, if rollers are used, forma block which may be slipped over the pin 9 shown at the lefijI of Fig. 2, after which aplate ii may be slid over the ends of the two pins 9 at the left of Fig. 2.

The final arrangement is that shown in dot and dash lines at the left of Fig. 2.

The assembly of two plates 'l and 8 with. the bushings, either with or without the rollers, is normally referred to in this art as a block,and the parts thereof are secured together in a man? ner which may be considered permanent. Like wise, the pins 9, being headed over in the plates 5, may be considered as permanently or rigidly secured to those plates. The plates 6 have a 45 sliding engagement with the pins 9, which isone giving a sliding t, that will permit ready removal of the plate -without the use of tools, if desired. When these plates are in position, they may bek removably held there by means of cotter pins i2. The pins 9 loosely fit within the bushings le, thus forming the desired pivotal connections.

Any group of link plates, here shown as. a pair, and which is pivoted to adjacent'links, is commonly referred to in the art as a pitch of links?,

and that expression will be used in certain of the claims.

The type of chain described above is designed for use with sprocket wheels, such as the one indicated at I3 in Fig. 1, the teeth of such a sprocket engaging the rollers II or bushings Il), as the case may be, to feed the chain.

According to my invention, one of each pair of link plates (5 and 6, or I and 8) is provided with a bracket I4 preferably formed as an integral part of a link plate and bent at right angles to that plate. As plainly shown, this bracket is bent across the chain towards and preferably across the edge of the other link plate of the pair. Secured to each bracket I4 is a conveyer plate I5, here shown as being riveted at I6 to the supporting bracket.

Each plate I5 may be a machined plate accurately formed to the exact thickness required, and, of course, the link plates of the chain are similarly formed with the needed accuracy. The result is a built-up conveyer chain formedof plates of steel or other suitable material which may be much more accurately made than the cast metal constructions of the prior art. Y

There are several advantages to be obtained from this construction, one of which is that it is extremely flexible in that the material of the conveyer plates and, in fact, of the chain itself may be selected for the particular material being handled. For example, in some plants stainless steel plates may be desirable, and in others bronze plates may be the best, particularly where bottling liquids which readily rust or corrode other metals. Then again, the plates I5, being all of the same thickness, may support a bottle I'I thereon in an upright position so that it will be accurately handled for the necessary operations to be performed thereon. The edges of the plates I5 may be beveled so as to slide underneath the bottles without catching thereon, e. g., as the bottlesY are held by the feeding mechanism (Fig. l). When cast types of conveyer tops have been used, it has been found that when a bottle rests partly upon one conveyer top and partly upon another, because of the unevenness of the tops or lack of uniformity ofthickness thereof, the bottle oftentimes tips sufficiently soy that the apparatus with which the chain is used will not operate properly on the bottle. The bottles may then easily become broken, and ome bottle may be tipped over, thus knocking down others.` Numerous other disadvantages, into which it is not necessary to go in detail, have been found with prior art constructions, all of which, however, are overcome by the construction of this application.

As shown in Fig. 5, the plates I5 of the conveyer chain may rest upon rails I8 between which the chain passes. In order that the respective plates may be made level, a small amount of freedom is provided between the bushings Ill and the pins 9. 'Ihis freedom is obtained by providing clearances between these parts greater than the ordinary clearances and so that each plate I5 may rest freely upon the rails I8 without interfering with the free movement of the chain parts relative to each other. In Fig. 5 is also shown a slightly different type of chain, which will be more fully described presently. In the form of the invention described above, it will be seen that the brackets I4 are all dis# posed on one side of the chain. That is to say, these brackets are all integral with plates disposed on the same side of the chain. In Fig.V 6, on the other hand, the brackets I4 are connected.

some to the plates on one side of the chain and some to the plates on the opposite side thereof.

Referring now to Figs. 5 and '7, I have shown therein another form of chain particularly adapted for use as part of a conveyer, although it may find utility in other types of chain. In Fig. 5, the chain is shown with a roller II, but, for the sake of convenience, such roller has been omitted from Fig. 7. The invention may be practiced either with or without the roller.

Referring particularly to Fig. '7, in which I have shown the new form of chain in process of assembly, the pins 9 are of uniform cylindrical cross-section throughout their lengths, and are received in holes in the plates 5 without, however, being headed over. The bushings I8 are pressed into holes inthe plates I and 8 of the alternate pitches as described above. Then the unit formed of plates 'I and 8 and its bushings may be placed upon pins 9', after which the plates 6 are slid n on tothe other ends of the pins 9 to hold the unit, consisting of the plates 'I and 8 and bushings I, in position. Y

The plates 5 may receive the pins 9 with a driving lit so as to be rigidly secured thereto, and the plates 6 may have a sliding t with the same pins so. as to be moreV easily removed. No heads or cotter pins need be used, the relation of the pins to the plates in the finished chain being probably best shown in Fig. 5 and being also indicated in dot and dash lines in Fig. '7. 'I'he various link plates may be provided with brackets I4 and conveyer plates I5.

The result of the above construction is a chain having numerous advantages, some of which will be briefly mentioned, although others will7 of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Looking at Fig. 5, it will be seen that the ends of the vpins extend a substantial distance vbeyond the link plates and thus form a protection forthe chain and, in this particular instance, serving to keep the chain out of contact with the rails I8. They also, of course, act as a guide in this particular case. Moreover, if the link plates 5 and 6 should by any chance become loose from the pins 9', the danger of their working along the pins to the end thereof is quite remote because of the length of the pins.

In Figs. 8 and '9 are shown two Ways in which the conveyer plates may be secured to their brackets. In Fig. 8, rivets IB are used, but it oftentimes happens that the heads of the rivets do not entirely ll the holes in theY plates, thus leaving crevices, such, for example, as indicated at I9 in Fig. 8, this crevice being somewhat exaggerated in size. Where great cleanliness is desirable, such crevices are objectionable. Another disadvantage of the rivet construction is that the top of the conveyer plate is not maintained smooth. The head of the rivet may project above the plate. With careful riveting work,

the riveted type of construction may be satisfactory, particularly for some kinds of industry where the chain is to be used. I have found, however, that the disadvantages which are some times present in the riveted type of chain may be avoided by welding the conveyer plate to-the bracket. In Fig. 9, I have shown such construction, the plate being welded to the bracket by two spot Welds 29. Such welding does not break the continuity of the top surface of the plate I5, and does not raise the protuberances, such as may sometimesV occur with a rivet head.

In Fig. 10,1 have shown an arrangement in which certain of the pins have their heads disposed on one side of the chain, Whereas others have their heads disposed on the opposite side. For example, in the embodiment shown, the pins 9a are headed over in the plates 6 which are disposed outside of the block formed by the plates 'l and 8 and associated bushings and rollers, whereas the pins 9b in the next pitch formed of outside plates are headed over in the plate of that pitch. The alternate pitches of a chain are thus made up of what may be termed block units and pin units, and alternate pin units have the pins facing or extending toward opposite sides of the chain so that the cylindrical ends 2l of these pins are disposed some on one side of the chain and some on the other so as to get the same guiding effect for the chain as a whole, as is provided in the form of chain shown in Figs. 5 and 7. That is to say, on either side of a chain, there will be cylindrical ends 2l of enough pins so that the chain may be guided between the rails IS or other guiding means.

For convenience of illustration, I have shown in Fig. that alternate pin units have their pins facing or extending in the same direction or towards the same side of the chain, but, of course, it will be understood that this exact arrangement is not necessary so long as there are a sufficient number of the ends 2i on either side of the chain to form the necessary guiding means.

Still referring to Fig. 10 and also to Figs. 11 and 12, I prefer that in each instance the pin unit shall have the supporting brackets Hla secured to the same plate to which the pins are secured by heading over. The result is a unit such as shown in Fig. 11 in which the bracket Me is integral with the plate 6 to which the pins 9a are rigidly fixed, first, by a driving flt and then by being headed over as indicated. The unit is completed by the plate 5 which has a sliding engagement with the pins 9a and which may be held in detachable relation to the rest of the unit and to the chain by means of the cotter pins l2 which may pass through holes l2 in the pins.

In Fig. 12, I have shown a block unit which has been described above with suiiicient detail and which is identied in Fig. 10 as the block unit I5' appearing in that gure. It will be evident that the bracket lila may be integral with either the plate 'l or the plate 8 of the block unit.

Among the advantages of the arrangement best shown in Fig. 10 is the easy assembly, since it Will be seen that, for example, the pin 9a at the right of Fig. 11 may be slipped through the bushing lil at the left of Fig. 12 and secured in place by the plate 5 and cotter pin i2 with a minimum of difficulty. This operation, of course, describes only the assembly of two adjoining pitches of a chain, and the operation is naturally repeated throughout the length of thechain, normally one pin unit being assembled with two adjoining block units. When it is desired to disconnect any one unit, this may be done merely by removing necessary cotter pins and sliding off from the pivot pins the outside plate of a pin unit which has been held in place by those cotter pins. If it is a pin unit which is to be removed, then it is only necessary to remove the cotter pins and outside plate of that unit which is held in place by the cotter pins, whereas, if it is a block unit -which is to be removed, then it will only be necessary to remove the cotter pins from the two pin units on opposite sides of the block unit which is to be removed.

Moreover, in eachform described, the chain is one in which the sole wearing contact is between the pins and the bushings, both of which may be formed with hardened surfacesr to resist wear, thereby maintaining the original pitch of the chain for a longer time, thus giving a smoother conveying action than in prior art conveyer chains and eliminating the jerky action which the prior art types of chains are very apt to develop on the sprocket teeth. Another advantage of my chain, particularly where used with bottling apparatus, is that it reduces the number of places Where dirt may collect and'where germs may multiply. It Will also be seen that all parts of the chain are made of plates which lmay be machined to the exact dimensions desired, and thus the chain may be accurately constructed for the work for which it is intended.

In actual prior art practice, as noted above, conveyer chains have usually been made of cast or fol forged metal, although some chains of the roller c block type and made of steel have been offered. They have never, however, been accepted, to my knowledge. In such chains which have been ,offered, the conveyer plate has been placed upon every other pitch of the chain. According to my invention, however, a much more flexible arrangement is provided, in that every pitch may be provided with a plate and nevertheless each pitch may be readily detached from adjoining pitches. The roller type chains which have been offered, as mentioned above, have not had this readily detachable construction.

While I have shown the invention as embodied in specific forms, it is to be understood that various changes in details may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, and I therefore do not intend to limit myself except by the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A chain comprising links in the form of plates arranged in pairs, with the plates in one pair overlapping those in adjoining pairs, the plates in alternate pairs being disposed outside of those in the intermediate pairs, pins xed in aligned holes in the outer plates of said alternate pairs, and bushings fixed in aligned holes in the plates of said intermediate pairs, said pins extending through said bushings and having a substantially uniform cylindrical cross-section throughout their lengths and extending a substantial distance beyond the plates in said alternate pairs, the ends of said pins thus forming means to keep the chain links out of contact with apparatus through which the chain passes.

2. In a conveyer chain comprising links in the form of plates arranged in pairs, with the two plates in one pair overlapping those in adjoining pairs and pivotally connected thereto, a pair of plates forming a pitch in said chain and having holes receiving bushings and through which pivot pins are adapted to extend, said plates being permanently xed to said bushings to form a block, substantially every other pitch in said chain comprising a block and the alternate pitches comprising pairs of plates disposed outside of said blocks and having holes in alignment with said bushings, each of said pairs of outside plates having one plate thereof provided with pins rigidly fixed in position in the holes therein and adapted to be loosely received within said bushings and to be slidably received within the holes in the other outside plate of the same pair, a bracket integral With one of the plates of each pair in the chain and extending towards the other plate of the same pair, and a conveyer plate secured to said bracket and supported entirely thereby and substantially symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal center line of the chain, the link plates to which said pins are secured being disposed some on one side of the chain and some on the other side thereof in diierent pitches and said pins having the ends thereof upon which the plates are slidably received extending outwardly from the chain to form guiding means adapted to engage guiding rails.

3. A conveyer chain comprising links in the form of plates arranged in pairs, with the plates in one pair overlapping those in adjoining pairs, the plates in alternate pairs being disposed outside of those in the intermediate pairs, pins fixed in position in one of said outside plates of a pair and extending through aligned holes in the plates of the'intermediate pairs and in the other outside plate of the same pair, said pins being rotatable in said holes of the intermediate plates and removably held in said hole in the other outside plate, a single line of brackets integral with the link plates in which the pins are xed, and conveyer plates extending across the chain, each of said plates being secured to one of said brackets adjacent the center of the plate and supported entirely by said bracket, alternate groups-of said pins extending lengthwise of the chain having their ends which slidably receive said outside plates disposed on opposite sides of the chain for the purpose set forth.

ROBERT J. HOWISON. 

